ISLAMABAD, May 9, 2017: The Sindh Assembly witnessed adoption of a government resolution and opposition lawmakers’ protest over it on Tuesday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
Following are key observations of the proceedings during 13th sitting of 32nd session:
Members’ Participation
- The Sindh Assembly met for three hours and 28 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1130 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The proceedings remained suspended for three minutes due to Azaan break.
- The Deputy Speaker presided over the proceedings for two hours and eleven minutes while rest of the proceedings was chaired by a member of Panel of Chairpersons.
- The Speaker, Leader of the House (Chief Minister) and the Leader of the Opposition were not present.
- Twenty-six lawmakers (16%) were present at the outset and 35 (21%) at the adjournment of sitting.
- The parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, PML-F and PTI attended the proceedings.
- Six minority members were present.
- Three members applied for leave.
Output
- Moved by Minister for Agriculture, the House adopted a resolution urging the Provincial Government to contact the Election Commission of Pakistan for revision of the allocation of reserved seats in light of present strength of political parties in the Assembly.
- Tabled by a MQM lawmaker, the House rejected a resolution regarding release of funds for Community Development Program.
- Four resolutions appearing on the agenda were disposed of due to absence of the movers.
- The House did not take up 23 motions for amendments in the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House took up six Starred Questions which were responded to by the relevant minister. The lawmakers also asked 21 Supplementary Questions.
- The Speaker rejected a PTI lawmaker’s Adjournment Motion regarding outbreak of Chikungunya disease in Karachi.
- Five Private Motions on various matters of public importance were dropped due to absence of the movers.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on seven Points of Order consuming 40 minutes of the proceedings.
- The opposition lawmakers staged a protest against the Chair who did not allow them to speak on the government resolution. The protest continued for 39 minutes and was followed by walkout of the opposition lawmakers who did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
Transparency
- Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.
This Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of the Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation, a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.